‘Dangerous’ in the open field

There was a moment Wednesday evening when the greatest kick returner in St. Augustine’s 101-year history was on the receiving end of a verbal grenade.

Once upon a time, Brandon James was an All-American kick returner at the University of Florida. These days, he is running backs and returners coach at his alma mater. The latter qualification is what led Dequan Stanley to joke he would break all of James’ St. Augustine High records.

Stanley averages 38.9 yards per kickoff return and scored three return touchdowns, in official games, this fall. Clay was the first team to get an intimate view of No. 5 speed and vision in the return game in the Aug. 16 kickoff classic.

The next team who will try to slow down St. Johns County’s most dangerous return specialist is Nease. The Panthers (1-6) welcome St. Augustine (4-3) as their homecoming opponent tonight.

James is one of a handful of St. Augustine special teamers who have made the all-state team. If Stanley keeps his current pace, the 5-foot, 9-inch junior may join him.

“For years and years, part of our culture here was that special teams was a big deal,” St. Augustine coach Brian Braddock said. “Coach (Joey) Wiles put that in place. We had some great special teams players, none better than Coach James, who coaches our returners. You’re talking about an All-American returner.”

What’s really cool about special teams is Nathaniel Wuellner is coordinating all the special teams. Brandon James, who played with Nathaniel, is coaching our returners. You see our returners having a lot of success, so it’s cool to look at it that way.”

A lot of success is an understatement. St. Augustine has a special teams touchdown in each of its last four games.

“I just think about the wedge,” Stanley said. “If they are there, I can do something with it.”

Stanley returned a kickoff 97 yards against Bartram Trail on Sept. 20, an 84-yard kickoff return against Englewood a week later and an 80-yard return last week against Matanzas. Jaden McDowell returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown in an Oct. 4 loss to Flagler Palm Coast.

“We don’t like to fair catch,” McDowell said. “We have athletes back there who know how to take it the distance and good blocking."

As soon as he breaks the wedge, Stanley said he looks forward to his teammates running with him to the end zone. To him, it’s euphoric to have a convoy of maroon and gold alongside him. While there is a part of him that feels slow for not being able to outrun everyone on the field. There is another part that relishes the opportunity to celebrate with his teammates before they get to the sidelines.

“It just shows all the work,” explained St. Augustine linebacker Devin Carter, who is also on the Yellow Jackets’ punt return and kickoff return teams. “Every day we do punt. Every day we do kickoff return. It’s good to see the work we put in take action on Friday.”

Moments after Carter mentioned the work that the Yellow Jackets put in on the field, a few dozen of his teammates ventured to his house to break bread together.

Stanley was among those who ate at Carter’s house on Wednesday night. It’s a sociability that was encouraged by his older brother.

Darius Stanley, a first-team All-County defensive end in 2018, inspired Dequan to be physical on the field and open with teammates off it.

“He made me want to come up to varsity,” Stanley said. “Freshman year I said ‘I’m not doing it. I can’t do it.’ He said ‘Dequan, you got the talent to play on varsity.’ He was constantly telling me this. I didn’t know anyone. He made me meet people. That’s when I started getting social with everyone. When he left, he had an impact. (I am starting) to know everyone on the team.”

Team celebrations on the sidelines after long touchdowns have a way of breaking reticence between teammates.

Throughout the team, there is a sense of pride that the Yellow Jackets have been able to make big plays in the return game. Carter, McDowell, Stanley and quarterback Sammy Edwards each mentioned goals they would like to accomplish on special teams before the season is over.

It’s believed McDowell’s punt return was the first by a St. Augustine player since 2010. McDowell is averaging 19.1 yards per punt return — along with leading the team with 77 tackles.

"Kick returns and punt returns — special teams big plays are such a lift," Braddock said. "They are not something you bank on. You don’t go into a game thinking ‘I know we’re going to get a punt return touchdown.’

"Dangerous teams always have that ability to score on special teams. It’s such a huge asset.”

Stanley is dangerous any time the ball is in his hands. The junior averages 19.6 yards per catch and leads the Yellow Jackets with 354 receiving yards. He caught six passes and two touchdowns last week against Matanzas. Tonight, he will face a Nease defense that is better against the run than the pass. However, Stanley has one thing that can pressure any would-be tackler: speed.

“He is a gifted athlete,” Braddock said. “He has exceptional quickness and exceptional top-end speed. That combination creates explosive plays. There are a lot of guys with one or the other. He has both.”

As the season has worn on, Stanley finds himself getting stronger. Mondays and Wednesdays are spent working with the defense. Tuesday, Stanley focuses on his offensive duties. Regardless of the day, Stanley and McDowell work with the Yellow Jackets defense and offense during pass skeleton period as well as the team period.

“I do it all in practice,” Stanley said. “At the beginning of the year, we would do it and I used to be exhausted. Then, over the months and months Coach Braddock would say you’re still going to be there. I would constantly get in the groove with it. On kick return, I jog a little bit at first. As soon as I see it, I hit it. Once I see everyone is burned, I start slowing down. I leave a little breath because I know I have to go back in.”

Earlier in the season, St. Augustine was judicious with how it used Stanley and McDowell on offense. But it’s October now and every game matters. St. Augustine is fighting for a berth in the Region 1-6A playoffs.

Tonight’s game is a rivalry, next week’s road trip to Ponte Vedra is for the District 3-6A title, and the regular season finale against Palatka is the 100th game between the eternal rivals.

None of the three opponents remaining on the schedule has a specialist who can consistently put the ball in the end zone. That means Stanley may have opportunities to energize his teammates during the Yellow Jackets’ stretch run.

Every time Stanley does, it will be his way of honoring his late grandmother, Betty Stanley.

“I love kick return. I feel free back there. …When the ball is in the air. I (start) thinking. Sometimes I think about if my grandma were in the stands how she would feel about it. I just want to put smiles on everyone’s faces.”

Dequan Stanley

Height: 5-9

Weight: 140

Class: Junior

2019 Statistics: 18 catches, 354 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns; 10 kick returns, 389 kickoff return yards, 3 touchdowns; four carries, 45 yards.